John Johnson

The work session involved a presentation by Illusion Islands regarding 'Lawrenceburg Glory,' a proposed sports drama feature film set in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The presenters detailed the film's synopsis, which centers on a football coach grappling with loss and rebuilding faith while coaching a small team. The discussion covered the four phases of film production (development, pre-production, production, post-production), distribution strategy (theatrical, VOD/DVD, streaming/ESOD), and marketing approaches, including community involvement and utilizing known talent. Financial aspects were addressed, outlining a total budget of $400,000 ($300K for production and $100K for marketing/distribution), with comparisons to similar successful faith-based and independent films. The presenters also discussed return on investment timelines, citing an average recoupment period of 12 to 18 months post-delivery, and emphasized using a neutral third-party CAM account for transparency. Potential distribution partners, Gooddeed Entertainment and Green Apple Entertainment, were highlighted based on their experience and success with comparable projects. The meeting concluded with a discussion on the proposed project timeline, aiming for filming to commence in May 2026, and a confirmation that the city's requested funding amount is $400,000.

The meeting began with the approval of the minutes from the previous session. A director presented an announcement regarding the essential duties of the Redevelopment Commission and proposed an assessment of current progress to sharpen the plan for 2020 and beyond, which includes evaluating projects, reviewing proposals, assessing property availability, and applying budget analysis with urban planning and financial expertise. A financial report as of January 7th, 2020, was presented, detailing current redevelopment balances. Under old business, an update on the Firehouse Development was provided, noting construction progress and an anticipated grand opening in February or early March. A request concerning the Walnut Square Townhouses was discussed, where the board ultimately voted against approving expenses based on legal advice regarding contractual responsibilities. Finally, the commission addressed an amendment request for the Athletic Club contract, specifically regarding the timing and form of the commission's contribution, changing it to be available as a construction account only after a certificate of occupancy is obtained for the first phase, which will now be a first-floor project only. A motion to proceed exclusively with Brewster and Pour for negotiations regarding the acquisition and renovation of the Union Hall building, focusing on addressing accessibility issues, was ultimately denied due to ethical concerns raised by a board member regarding conflicts of interest.

The City Council meeting covered several new business items, including the approval of a 2026 professional service agreement with American Structure Point for the annual Tanner Creek bridge inspections, including quarterly and in-depth four-year surveys. The Council also approved the 2026 contract with Superior Fire and Security for fire alarm monitoring and annual inspections, noting a shift from an unsatisfactory current vendor. Furthermore, the 2026 Master Service Agreement with Atlas, outlining rates for geotechnical engineering and environmental consulting, was approved on a when-needed basis. Approval was granted for the 2026 maintenance agreement renewal for bell and clock maintenance with Vernon Bells and Clocks. The board also approved posting the job bid for an office manager position within the civil city department, pending email delivery of the job description. Additionally, four recommendations for full-time School Resource Officer positions were approved, with the fifth to be addressed by restarting the process in the new year. The Council also authorized the approval of 2026 employee contracts for contract employees. Salary adjustments for code enforcement, including a cost-of-living raise, were approved. Finally, yearly contracts for lobbying services were approved, specifically for Barnes and Thornberg (during legislative session only) and The Legis Group (year-round retainer). The meeting concluded with the approval of the VoiceCloud proposal for a cloud-based accounting software system, incorporating online billing capabilities.

The discussion centered on the final report for the previous year concerning variance requests. The report indicated that out of 20 applications, 19 were granted, and one was still pending request.

The meeting included discussions regarding a K9 contract, with considerations for retiring dogs and acquiring new ones, as well as related funding and grant opportunities. There were also announcements about the condition of globes at New Town Park, the success of a pee football jamboree at Let Hill Park, and a change to the garbage collection schedule during Thanksgiving week. Additionally, concerns were raised about a deteriorated sidewalk downtown and plans to address it.